urban legend
A modern form of folklore, consisting of fictitious stories, often believed to be true, passed around by word of mouth, chain letters or emails, or websites such as 2chan. These stories are set in our contemporary world and frequently describe unexplainable or unusual events, reflect broad societal fears around e.g. crime and sex, and often feature a twist ending.
Urban legends may confirm moral standards, reflect prejudices, or be a way to make sense of societal anxieties.
